9/1/23
Upcoming Dates:
9/4- NO SCHOOL
9/19- Early Release 1:30 Dismissal
9/25- NO SCHOOL
10/3- Picture Re-take Day
10/5- NO SCHOOL- Conferences
10/6- NO SCHOOL- Conferences
10/9- NO SCHOOL
10/24- Early Release 1:30 Dismissal
It was so nice to see everyone at our Curriculum Nights this week!
If you missed the presentation from Mrs. Dolan and Mrs. Barnes, you can find it HERE.
What’s Happening at TG?
6th Grade
Pre-Algebra Survey: Welcome to 6th-grade math! We are starting with a unit on ratios and proportions. The students will learn how to describe ratio relationships, solve problems, and work with percentages. It is normal for math to feel challenging at the beginning of the year. The transition to middle school math is challenging because this class covers 6th and 7th-grade math in one year. Mr. Lee and Mrs. Didech are here for the students and will support them every step of the way. Give the students some time, and they will adjust to the new pace. So far, the students are doing great and we are excited to get to know them this year!
Pre Algebra: Welcome to 6th grade math! We are starting with a unit on ratios and proportions. The students will learn how to describe ratio relationships, solve problems, and work with percentages. It is normal for math to feel challenging at the beginning of the year. The transition to middle school math is challenging because this class covers 6th, 7th, and much of 8th-grade math in one year. Mr. Lee and Mrs. Didech are here for the students and will support them every step of the way. Give the students some time, and they will adjust to the new pace. So far, the students are doing great and we are excited to get to know them this year!
Language Arts: Welcome back to school! We are beginning the year by spending some time getting to know each other while also helping students learn the daily routines of middle school. Each class has had the opportunity to take a tour of the TG library and check out a book. They will need to have a book to read in school every day for language arts and Flex classes. We are starting off learning about plot structures. Soon we will be moving into themes in fiction by discovering the lesson the characters learn in the story and/or what lesson the author is trying to teach the reader.
Science: Welcome to 6th grade Science! Students have been diving deep into how scientists DO science. First, we learned about safety in the science lab setting and classroom as well as safety equipment. Next, we learned how scientists set up an experiment and the steps they take in order to solve a problem or answer a question. Students are off to a great start and we can’t wait to see what this year has in store!
SS: Welcome to Twin Groves! In social studies, students will be learning about the world through the lens of geography. We will challenge the students to think like a geographer in order to understand why people live in certain locations, why they move, and how people and their environments impact one another. Along with this, we will be using the inquiry model to help students develop critical thinking skills to grapple with essential questions.
7th Grade
Pre-Algebra: Students have been working hard at remembering and practicing all of the rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing positive and negative integers. As we are beginning to apply these same rules for decimals, it is important that the students practice, practice, practice. Mastery of these skills is key to being successful in math.
Bridge to Algebra 1: Students are working hard on a very crucial unit involving solving equations and inequalities including word problems. Students have been learning how to solve one-step, two-step, and multi-step equations including equations with the distributive property. Next week we will practice the art of solving equations with variables on both sides of the equal sign.
Algebra 1: Students are in the midst of their equation-solving unit. These skills, including solving literal equations, and solving inequalities and compound inequalities are foundational to their fluency in mathematics in the future.
Language Arts: This week the Language Arts classes have spent time reviewing past skills and becoming familiar with the expectations of 7th grade. We have been able to learn several literature and non-fiction strategies that will help with our initial analysis of texts. We also read and annotated a children's book. After that, we practiced writing skills that will help teachers gauge where the students are at the beginning of the year. In the upcoming weeks, we will start our analysis of mood, tone, and irony, and how they are used by authors to develop themes.
Science: Science Students are reviewing science skills as the year gets underway. We are completing our first engineering project using a model-size zipline. We will be starting our chemistry unit next by looking at chemical reactions and introducing the periodic table.
SS: Students have been hard at work building classroom connections and practicing skills related to basic research, direction following, and map skills. Heading into September, our Social Studies learners will begin to dive into the various elements of evaluation needed to determine whether a source is reliable and credible. They will also begin to learn about the history and geography of the early American colonies, and how the culture and geography of these colonies contributed to their development.
8th Grade
Bridge to Algebra: We began the year in Unit 1: Solving Linear Equations! Students will be solving simple equations, multi-step equations, equations using the distributive property, and equations with variables on both sides. Please encourage students to complete all homework assignments to ensure they are practicing the necessary skills to be successful! Practicing integer rules outside of class would be extremely helpful for most students as well! Excited for a fun year!
Algebra 1: Algebra 1 began the year by jumping right into Unit 01: Solving Linear Equations and Inequalities. Students will have to create equations and inequalities to represent different relationships to then solve and interpret the solution. They will also learn about literal equations involving two or more variables. Lastly, students will master solving two linear inequalities and represent the solutions graphically. Please make sure that students have a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator they are bringing with them to class daily. Excited for a fun year!
Geometry: Geometry began the year by jumping right into Unit 01: Angle and Segment Relationships. This has been a challenging beginning unit for students but most are persevering and showing mastery of our learning targets! Students will have to really push themselves with their thinking. If your child feels that Algebra 1 concepts are making Geometry more difficult, please encourage them to utilize Edia/Khan Academy outside of class and reach out for extra practice!
Language Arts: We begin Language Arts by looking at why we tell stories through the lens of theme. We explore what a theme is, as well as how authors develop a theme throughout a story. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will begin our short story unit while looking at the development of themes within these texts. We will also begin to explore how authors create various moods throughout a story. Students will work on crafting theme and mood analysis essays. This work is building towards our writing targets throughout the year.
Science: We will spend about a month and a half looking at contact forces. Student questions about the factors that result in a shattered cell phone screen will lead them to investigate what is really happening to any object during a collision. They will make their thinking visible with free-body diagrams, mathematical models, and system models to explain the effects of relative forces, mass, speed, and energy in collisions. Students then will use what they have learned about collisions to engineer something that will protect a fragile object from damage in a collision. They will investigate which materials to use, gather design input from stakeholders to refine the criteria and constraints, develop micro and macro models of how their solution is working, and optimize their solution based on data from investigations. Finally, students will apply what they have learned from the investigation and design to a related design problem.
SS: We began the year by discussing one’s identity and how it shapes the way we all see the world around us. We will have many lessons, discussions, and open forums with the hope of creating a safe environment where students practice sharing their perspectives and having difficult conversations. Our first unit focuses on immigration to this country at the turn of the 20th century. Students will take part in an inquiry on whether or not the “American Dream” came true for these immigrants. Students will research reasons why immigrants came to the United States and the conditions that they experienced once they arrived in order to complete their inquiry. Through this investigation, students will also explore the contributions that immigrants made to the United States and the lasting impact that this time of change had on future generations.
The ILC: The ILC's commitment to individualized learning remains strong. We cater to each student's unique learning needs in both math and literacy. By tailoring instruction to students' abilities and preferences, we are witnessing magic in the classroom!
We've just completed our first novel unit, Lost. The class had a chance to connect to characters and enhance comprehension skills in small groups. Through meaningful discussions, we hope to deepen the students' love for reading and critical thinking.
We engage in daily math and reading centers, which provide an interactive approach to learning. Students work to solve problems, refine calendar skills and number sense, and practice skill development with technology. As students rotate through the stations, they reinforce their skills and gain a deeper understanding of key concepts.
We've done a lot of work these first few weeks with paragraph writing to help students structure their ideas coherently. Furthermore, we continue to work to craft claim essays. Students are learning to develop and support claims with text evidence, a crucial skill that aligns with higher-level thinking. Another important objective is for students to extract meaning from texts and articulate their interpretations effectively. By rewording text evidence into their own words, students are refining their comprehension and expression skills.
In Science, we have been exploring motion and force. The students have engaged in many applications to see all of the ways that motion connects to our everyday lives. We've explored the way our bodies move during sports and cleaning. The students created demonstrations to teach each other how gravity is the force that pulls everything back down to Earth. They also continue to practice informational literacy skills through the lens of this content.
Please look for daily reading logs, coming home on 8/30. Your child is expected to read for 15 uninterrupted minutes per day. Encourage your child to read anything of high interest, or read aloud to them. It all counts!
Erin’s Law (Repeat)
An Illinois law known as Erin’s Law requires schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness/prevention curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12.
Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 researched and observed best practices and programs for delivering this instruction, selecting Be Seen & Heard ©. For more information about this presentation please go to www.victorpacini.com/peace-of-mind-2
This developmentally appropriate and interactive program focuses on teaching children skills to keep them safe from danger or abuse. Concepts discussed will include distinguishing safe from unsafe touches, safety rules at home and school, saying NO, safe/unsafe secrets, and telling a trusted adult, as well as reinforcing that an adult’s touching him or her is not the child’s fault.
Opt-Out Procedures
The presentation to Twin Groves students will be during the school day on September 11th, 2023. If you prefer that your child does not attend this prevention education session, please submit your written request or your questions to [email protected]
Middle School Health (Repeat)
Please click HERE to access the 23-24 Health Education letter.
Dress Code
Students who are in violation of the policy and rules of the student dress code will be asked to comply with the rules by either changing to other attire that is available at school, or by having parents bring different clothes from home. In the event there is noncompliance with the above regulations, a student may receive disciplinary action.
Please note…any student violating the dress code will be asked to change into other clothes or cover-up.
This is a friendly reminder of the District 96 Standards of Dress from the Parent/Student Handbook.
4.12-e Standards for Student Dress. Students who are appropriately and comfortably dressed are able to focus on schoolwork more effectively. The following guidelines will be enforced by building administrators. Cooperation by parents is appreciated.
1. Dress or appearance that provokes or distracts other students or otherwise causes a disruption to the educational process is prohibited.
2. Shoes must be worn at all times.
3. Clothing, jewelry, or accessories may not have writing or pictures that advertise or advocate alcohol, drugs, tobacco, obscenity, violence, or gang activity.
4. Pants must be worn at the waistline.
5. Hats are allowed on designated hat days only.
6. Half shirts, cropped tops, spaghetti straps, and underwear or sleepwear worn as outerwear are not acceptable.
7. Undergarments should not be visible.
8. With the exception of appropriate jewelry, no chains should be worn.
Cell Phones
Cell phones should be securely locked in the student’s lockers from 7:43 AM-2:30 PM.
We are asking that all students have their cell phones silenced and locked in their lockers from 7:43 AM to 2:30 PM.
If a staff member sees a cell phone out, we will ask the student to lock it in their locker. If they do not comply, the phone will be taken and sent to the office until the end of the day. Students can collect their cell phones from the office at 2:30 PM.
Please see language from the D96 Board Policy Manual:
Using or possessing an electronic paging device. Using a cellular telephone, video recording device, personal digital assistant (PDA), or other electronic device in any manner that disrupts the educational environment, or violates the privacy right of others, including using the device to take photographs in locker rooms or bathrooms, cheat, or otherwise violate student conduct rules. Prohibited conduct specifically includes, without limitation, creating, sending, sharing, viewing, receiving, or possessing an indecent visual depiction of oneself or another person through the use of a computer, electronic communication device, or cellular phone. Unless otherwise banned under this policy or by the Building Principal, all electronic devices must be kept powered-off or silenced and out-of-sight during the regular school day unless: (a) the supervising teacher grants permission; (b) use of the device is provided in a student’s individualized education program (IEP); (c) it is used during the student’s lunch period, or (d) it is needed in an emergency that threatens the safety of students, staff, or other individuals.
Daily Announcements
Please see the Twin Groves website for up-to-date school announcements. The announcements let you know what exciting activities and clubs are going on at Twin Groves. Please click HERE to access the Daily Announcements.
Twin Groves Athletics
Please click HERE to access the Twin Groves Athletics site.
This site will be updated frequently.